Sierra Cartwright in The Hot Seat!

Let's welcome Sierra Cartwright to The Hot Seat! She writes great kinky erotica and, in my opinion, is one of the best at depicting power exchange in a realistic and authentic way (and HOT, hot way!). The first book I read by Sierra Cartwright was Bound and Determined and I was hooked from then on. Honestly, if you haven't read Bound and Determined, you MUST. It's kind of dubious consent and capture fantasy and has a HOT Scot and ... lots of hotness ensues with an interesting storyline (the BDSM scenes were intense and there's some menage going on). Though, of course, Sierra is most recently best known for her Mastered series (see my review for On His Terms here). The next installment in the Mastered series, Over the Line, is available on Total-e-bound as the pre-release version.

So here is Sierra answering my brilliant questions!

How did you come up with your pen name? Does it have special meaning to you or do you just like the sound?

Sierra - Pen name? What pen name? ;) Seriously, the name has special significance to me. Since I love the mountains, Sierra just sounded like the perfect fit. And Cartwright… Just so “Western,” fitting many of the books I write.

What would you do if you weren't a writer?

Sierra - Wait. I’d have unlimited money, right? If so, I’d like to travel the world, have an adventure a day, well, that is, when I’m not on the beach. Since money is an object, I’d expand my coaching career. I am a certified business coach. (No, that doesn’t mean I’m a busybody!) I generally work with entrepreneurs. And they are visionary, creative people. I’ve done some public speaking, and I also do some editing. I love helping others, no matter their path. 

What is your favorite food and does it go with orange juice?

Sierra - EVERYTHING goes with orange juice.... except tooth paste! Favorite food? That’s tricky. I spent a number of years as a vegetarian and then when I started eating meat again, it was as if a whole new world opened up. I discovered a taste for sushi (haven’t tried it with orange juice), crab cakes (turns out I like anything with the word “cake” in the title!), and a sirloin salad (which does go with orange juice). In Jackson Hole, I had orange cake. And that was one of the most memorable food experiences ever. (Really, who remembers where and when they had their favorite dessert? That’s how good it was.)

What was your favorite book to write? why?

Sierra - I’ve had two that, in retrospect, were really fun to write. The first is Unbound Commitment. I wrote nine books for Harlequin/Silhouette before moving over to erotic romance. It was a real treat to use graphic words for naughty bits rather than euphemisms. I really let loose with that book. I figured the publisher might do heavy edits, but to my surprise and delight, they did not. They did attach quite the warning to the book, but they allowed me complete creative freedom.

The second is the novella Bared to Him in the Bound to the Billionaire anthology. The idea for that story came from a real life experience a Dom friend of mine had on an elevator. As he told me about the encounter, I desperately wanted to write about it. So when I had the opportunity to write the novella, I of course, seized it. Yes, I embellished a little. After all, my Dom friend is not a billionaire (yet).

What was the hardest book for you to write and why?

Sierra - Here’s the absolute honest truth: the book I’m writing at the moment (no matter when you ask me this question) is the hardest book to write. I wish I could say that writing is effortless for me, but it’s not. Having a detailed synopsis and understanding each protagonist’s goal, motivation, and conflict help, a lot, but I always struggle to know a character and work on their evolution.

If you could choose one superpower, what would it be and why?

Sierra - I’d choose to be able to move around on the space/time continuum. And Iron Man would be my sidekick. Of course, I’d get to have a really cool outfit and the body to go in said outfit. Wouldn’t it be fun to move from 2029 to 1776? I’d love to see how the world changes and the technological and medical advances that are in store for us. But really, I just want a cool outfit. And Iron Man at my beck and call.

Did you read Twilight? If yes, team Edward or team Jacob? 

Sierra - Gack. Both. Neither. It was all Team Jacob until book 4. 

Coffee or tea? and how do you take it?  

Sierra - I feel a betrayal of my British roots coming on here. Coffee... So strong it'll disintegrate your spoon. I drink tea at my mother’s house. She always “brews up” when I come over. And, yes, I pour lots of milk in it.

How would you say On His Terms is different from and similar to your other books?  

Sierra - On His Terms has a strong capable heroine and an unyielding hero demands all she has to

offer, and then some. He’ll find out where her limits are and then push her past them. And his love for her will ultimately bring him to his knees. On His Terms is unique among anything I’ve done in that the heroine starts the story by being determined to capture the interest of Dom and up-and-coming rock star Evan C. Unfortunately, Evan has found her submissive skills to be somewhat lacking.

As part of Project Snag Evan C, she knows she needs some BDSM training. So she approaches a renowned trainer, Alexander Monahan. She’s sure it will be rather straightforward, and it’s anything but. Things become even more complicated when she starts to fall for Master Alexander.

As for Alex, he’s spent years turning trainees into perfect submissives. He’s never formed an emotional attachment, until Chelsea Barton makes him question everything he thought he knew. He has no idea how he will turn her over to another man…

What are you working on now? 

Sierra - There are a total of six books in the Mastered series from Total-E-Bound.

Book three is called Over the Line and it features a delicious, handsome, dominant cowboy. When I wrote for Silhouette, I did a number of rancher stories, so cowboys have a special place in my heart. Next up, and the book I’ve just finished writing, is In His Cuffs. (I love the title of this one, it gets ME excited when I read it!) This was inspired by a situation from my life has a corporate-type of setting with a Secretary sort of twist. What could be hotter than falling for your boss?

After that, I’m really looking forward to a deeper exploration of BDSM in For the Sub, which will star the Den’s submissive, Brandy. Niles will also make a return from an earlier book. He’s a bit of a tortured soul, and he’s very experienced in the lifestyle. If you’re looking for an emotional and physical book, this one will make your toes curl.

The Mastered series will conclude with In the Den. Damien, who owns the spectacular home, will try to tame Catrina, an avowed Domme. That will have tons of sparks and lots of back and forth between two extraordinarily strong characters.

Thanks for having me, Haydee! VERY much appreciated!

Find Sierra online: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Blogger

 About the Author:

Born in Manchester, England and raised in the US, Sierra Cartwright is the acclaimed author of more than twenty erotic romances.

She was previously published with Harlequin/Silhouette under a different pseudonym, and won numerous awards as well as a coveted spot on the USA Today bestseller list.

Last year, she was delighted to be among the launch authors for the exciting Clandestine Classics imprint from Total-E-Bound. The project generated international interest, and her contribution, the expanded Jane Eyre, was featured in segments on such shows as Jimmy Kimmell and Anderson Cooper Live. Time Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and numerous other online sites also wrote features about the provocative new book.

Cartwright has been interviewed by USA Today, and she did a segment for the Orlando Fox affiliate with Chase Cain.

She’s a multiple CAPA nominated author who is delighted by the success of With This Collar, the first book in a six-book series “Mastered” from Total-E-Bound.

With This Collar has reached #1 on the Amazon UK Kindle Erotica chart, and #3 in the US Amazon Kindle bestseller list.